(07-17-2026, 12:45 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Yeah...to your last point, I think it's really less about how "ready" he is and more about how "invest in the future" the Mavs are about to go. We all have that line drawn somewhere in our heads, but we don't know how where the Mavs have drawn it.
I think he has shown more than flashes, but you're right - he IS pretty low on the pecking order around here unless some players are moved out. I know what I'd do, but things like how Ishenko is handled and whether De Larrea is solidly in the rotation right away will be super informative in the coming weeks and months.
One vital factor that the Mavs have to weigh is how far away the project player like Ishchenko is from being able to contribute at the rotation level (or better) in the NBA. Except for 1st rounders, once they "start the clock" they only have 3 years of control, and then he's up for grabs.
On many players they don't have any options on when to start that clock, but on Ishy they do. It's to their advantage to keep his clock from starting as he is developing UNLESS he will be a needed contributor this season. I don't think he will. He's been playing at a relatively low level up until now, and in some ways is probably a bit overwhelmed. Let him get some seasoning at the next level (Europe somewhere) and then put him in the mix next summer, perhaps.